Cranes

ABSTRACT

A derrick crane having a single mast adapted for operation both fore and aft of the mast.

Unlted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,709,375 Morrison et al. 14 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] CRANES [56] References Cited [75] Inventors: Robert Mon-lion, Greenock; James UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor. MacNelll, Kilbirnie, both of Scotland 3,250,373 7/1966 Kuribayashi.. .212/3 3,308,965 3/1967 Kuribayashi. .....2l2/3 Asslgneer speedcrlnes i Gourock, 2,860,789 ll/l958 Fladmark. ..212 5s Renfrewshire, Scotland 3,446,362 5/1969 Banks .212/58 X 3,245,549 4/1966 Trevisan... ..2l2/3 [22] Flled- 137,737 4/1873 TlllSOfl ..2s4/19o [21] Appl. No.: 1,998

Primary Examiner-Harvey C. l-lomsby Assistant Examiner-Merle F. Maffei [30] 8" Applicifion Data Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn Jan. 10, 1969 Great Britain ..l,628/69 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.Cl ..2l2/58,2l2/3 A derrick crane havin a sin 1 mast adapted for s1 1 c1 B 6 23 g g lat. 6 c p ti n f d ft f th mast. [58] Field of Search ..2l2/3, 58

3 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9mm 3.709.375 SHEET um 10 m/m mw B05587 Mom/5M mm mm: 444: mu

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This invention relates to cranes and particularly, but not exclusively, to derrick cranes conventionally used in loading and unloading cargo and in moving cargo from one place to another either on board ship or on land.

Both economically and practically it is a great advantage if, on a ship, one crane can serve to hatches and/or the area of the deck and holds of the ship both fore and aft of the mast.

Furthermore, a ship having such a crane is capable of carrying and of loading and unloading containers or other cargo irrespective of whether or not the port being servedis equipped to handle containers.

Because of their large bulk volume and excess weight conventional cranes, though they can operate around a fixed base, are not as suitable as derrick cranes which are more adaptable for operation under adverse conditions afloat as for example, during listing of the ship.

Though it is known to operate a derrick crane for serving hatches fore and aft of the crane by supporting the jib on two masts, derrick cranes using only one mast are limited to operation either fore or aft of the mast.

The provision of two masts each of which may weigh twenty tons or more is however cumbersome and expensive.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a single mast derrick crane effective and adapted to operate both fore and aft of the mast.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for converting known derrick cranes having a single mast but limited to operation either fore or aft of the mast into cranes capable of operating both fore and aft of the mast.

According to the invention a crane, derrick crane or swinging derrick is provided having means, including a member to support the jib and permit rotation of the jib around a single mast, and pulley members so disposed in the rigging and in relation to the cargo wire as to permit operation of the crane both fore and aft of the mast.

Thus the member supporting the jib may comprise a slewing ring and the pulley members on the jib may include a pulley unit disposed at the head of the jib and rotatable relative to the jib.

Advantageously additional pulley members may be secured either directly or indirectly to the jib to facilitate the operation.

The invention furthermore provides means which may be utilized in converting a crane of known construction but limited to operation in an area either fore or aft of the mast so that it is effective in operation both fore and aft of the mast.

According to the invention furthermore a method and means are provided for mounting and slewing the jib ofa derrick crane on a slewing ring and for compensating for any excess, or unbalanced, load which may result when the crane is mounted on a ship and the ship lists as the load is swung outboard or inboard.

The constructional features and method of the invention may be utilized in combination with the rapid reduction head and anti-pendulum devices the subject of our co-pending United Kingdom application Nos. 8321/66, 8588/66, 58248/67 and 15753/68 and with the device for aligning a load for movement to any desired position the subject of co-pending United Kingdom application No. 20667/67.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying-drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A- 1F are views of a derrick crane having a .split jib mounted on a slewing ring;

. FIG. 1A shows the jib at one side of the mast carrying the slewing ring;

FIG. 1B is a corresponding plan view;

FIG. 1C shows the jib at a side of the mast at right angles to that shown in FIGS. 1A and 18.

FIG. 1D is a corresponding plan view to FIG. IC.

FIG. US shows the pulley means mounted at the top of the jib to permit movement of the jib from one side of the mast to the other withoutfouling the rigging;

FIG. 1F is an end elevation of the pulley means shown in FIG. 1E;

FIG. 2A shows a derrick crane in which an outrigger is utilized to effect operation around the mast, and

FIGS. 28 and 2C show the disposition of the rigging in the two extreme positions;

FIG. 3A shows a derrick crane having a' power operated slewing rigging, an outrigger mounted on the top of the mast, and rigging for lufling in and luffing out effective also to compensate for listing of the ship;

FIG. 3B is a corresponding plan view;

FIG. 3C is a plan view of the crane when the jib is central;

FIG. 4A shows in detail the construction of the rotator shown in FIGS. 3A-3C;

FIG. 4B shows the linkage of the rotator shown in FIG. 4A to the jib head in one method of construction;

FIG. 5A shows a construction of'a derrick crane having an outrigger mounted on the top of the mast and members secured thereto by universal joints;

FIG. 5B is a corresponding plan view;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the application of the invention to two known constructions of derrick cranes;

FIG. 6C is a plan view ofthe jib of FIG. 6A or 6B;

FIG. 6D shows the winding on the winches of FIG. 6A and 68 respectively as indicated;

FIG. 7 shows a construction comprising a mast and outrigger in which slides areprovided on the outrigger for the securing means of the topping rigging;

FIGS. 8 11 show an alternative construction, FIG. 8 including perspective views of the jib in two positions;

FIG. 9 being a plan view of a double pulley unit located at the top of the mast of FIG. 8; 1

FIG. 10 a plan view of a pivotable frame member located at the head of the jib of FIG. 8 and FIG. 11 a perspective view of a cargo block adapted for use with the frame member shown in FIG. 10.

In the construction shown in FIGS. 1A IF the jib L is mounted on a slewing ring J and slewing is controlled by two slewing cables or guys E and F. v

The guy E is secured to the topping of the rigging, for example, to a delta plate member, at K and passes, via pulley means A, secured to an intermediate position on the jib L to pulley means C secured at the top of the jib L, and thence, via pulley means G to the slewing winch O. i

The guy F is also secured in similar manner to the topping rigging at K and passes to pulley means B,

secured at an intermediate position, and adjacent to pulley means A, on the jib L and to pulley means D, located at the top of the jib L and thence, via pulley means H, to the slewing winch O.

The pulley means C and D are contained in a unit M, disposed at the top of the jib L and adapted for rotation relative to the jib L to permit the pulley means C and D and the unit M to turn through 180 relative to the longitudinal axis of the jib L.

The pulley means A, B are of different diameter to permit the parts of the guys E and F intermediate A, C and B, D respectively to be kept apart as the unit M moves through 180.

Alternatively, instead of providing pulleys of different diameter the guys can be kept apart by locating K1 within the jib, preferably on the axis of the jib, and passing the topping wire around a pulley disposed intermediate the jib and in such a position as to permit operation of K1.

This alternative construction is particularly advantageous when the invention is used to convert existing installations on which pulleys corresponding to A, B may not be of different diameter or on which only a single pulley has been used.

In utilizing the invention to convert a construction of known type in which one of the slewing guys is secured to the topping lift wire and the other to an eye piece, or the like, adjacent the top of the jib, it suffices to transfer the guy formerly secured to the jib, to the unit M and to cause the other guy to pass over a single pulle A.

it will be appreciated that the connection of the guys E, F to the topping incorporate additional pulley or like members and their securing members, such as N, for the rigging may be included as required.

Pulley means P and Q are provided at the top of the mast R for hoisting and luffing.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c the jib L is mounted on a slewing ring J and slewing is controlled by guides or guys E and F secured to pulley means C and D respectively. Pulley means P and are provided at the top of the mast R for hoisting and luffing.

The guy E passes to pulley means G located on arm X of an outrigger XY, which is secured to posts Z over pulley means A to the slewing winch 0 The guy F passes to pulley means I-I located on arm Y of the outrigger XY, over pulley means B to the slewing winch 0 As will be seen from FIG. 2B and 2C the outrigger X Y is turned through 180 as the jib moves from extreme position to the other.

FIGS. 3A-3C show a derrick crane operated by a motorized slewing ring and rigged in a manner which compensates for the listing of the ship.

When a ship lists while lifting a heavy load the effort required to slew the load inboard is increased to such an extent that it may become almost impossible with conventional constructions to slew with a slewing ring and it is necessary to employ wires and various rigging means to accomplish this. Also in conventional constructions when a crane slews outboard the list increases progressively and as a result the load can run away and get out of control unless extensive and expensive precautions are taken.

In one construction according to the invention adapted to compensate for listing of the ship the topping is carried on two pennants, and, as the crane moves outboard the topping load is progressively taken up by the pennant on the side opposite to that to which the crane is slewing until all the topping load is taken by that pennant. This has the effect of ensuring that when the ship islisting the effective support position of the topping load is vertically, or near vertically over the center of the slewing ring thus making the crane behave as if it were still working on a level keel.

The amount by which the effective support position must be offset is determined by the maximum allowable list.

FIG. 3A shows a mast R with an outrigger X Y formed integral therewith and mounted athwart-ship. J is a slewing ring which is operated by power means JM. The jib L is mounted on the slewing ring 1 and the topping is carried on two pennants S and T which are secured to ends X and Y of the outrigger X Y on suitable eyes or pivots at U and V The other end of each pennant is secured, either directly or by means of a bridle, to a rotator W which carries pulley means G and H The topping wire E from a suitable winch, not shown in the drawings, passes to pulley means P at the top of the mast R through the center of rotator W to pulley means C attached to the jib head and then passes back to, and is secured to the rotator W A construction to provide additional balance to the system is shown in FIG. 3C which illustrates a five part purchase in which the topping wire E passes from one sheave of a pulley double block C to pulley means G back to the other sheave of pulley block C, then to pulley means H and is suitably secured to a becket on C or direct to the jib. This wire controls the luff out and luff in of the jib and, in conjunction with the movement of the base of the jib around the slewing ring J which movement is effected by power means 1M provides any combined slewing and luffing effect which may be required. Y I

The cargo wire Z from a suitable winch (not shown in the drawings) passes over pulley means Q at the top of the mast, through the center of rotator W and over pulley means at the top of the jib to the cargo hook.

In the position shown in FIG. 3C the pennants S and T take equal amounts of the topping load. In the outboard position shown in FIG. 3B pennant T is taking all the load and it will be understood that should the mast R lean over in the direction of the jib L because of the list of the ship, the pivot V which will then be taking the load, will be either vertically above the center of the slewing ring or slightly off the vertical.

In an alternative construction (not shown in the drawings) the pennants S and T are provided as one or more continuous wires. In this method one end of the wire is connected to the rotator W and passes over the pulley means U suitably secured at one end of the outrigger X Y across to the other end of the outrigger to pulley means suitably attached at V back to the rotator'W. The reach of wire between pulley means at U and pulley means at V is deflected by roller or similar means to be kept clear of pulley means P and Q. By this method both the reaches remain taut at all times and, when applied as in FIG. 3A, the effective support position of the load line is either vertically above the slewing ring or only slightly off vertical as previously described. I

The rotator shown in FIG. 4A comprises a ring 1 such as a ball bearing ring or thrust race of a size which permits the cargo and/or topping wire 2 to pass freely through the ring. The ring 1 is secured by any suitable means 3, either directly to the jib head as shown in FIG. 4B or as shown in FIGS. 3A 38 by pulley blocks in the rigging. Securing means 4 for pennants or pulley means in the topping span are provided around the ring and are free to rotate around the ring.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 53 an outrigger X Y is provided on the top of the mast R and, mounted on the top of the outrigger X Y are two universal joints 5 to which are attached struts 6. Attached to the other ends of the struts are pulley means 7. A topping and slewing wire 8a goes from pulley means 9a on the outrigger X Y to pulley means 10 which is attached to pennant 11 which is secured to rotator W at 12. (Alternatively the pulley means 10 may be attached direct to rotator W The wire 8 passes from pulley means 10 to pulley means 7 and then to a becket mounted on pulley means 10.

The topping and slewing wire 8b follows a similar course from pulley means 9B.

Pulley means 9A, 9B, and a pulley 9C for the cargo wire, are mounted. on swivels to enable them to turn freely through 360. The rotator W is attached to the jib L and is free to move in a vertical plane and is so constructed that free passage is available for the cargo wire 8C at all positions of the jib L Topping spans attached at 12 are free to rotate as the jib L passes from one side of the mast R and outrigger X Y to the opposite side.

It will be understood that the construction shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is applicable to a greater or less number of purchases than shown in the drawings. The struts 6 are able to take up any position towards the outward end of the outrigger X Y but are restrained from going towards the center of the outrigger by pennants 13A and 133 secured to swivels 14A, 14B.

Advantageously the position of the securing swivels 14A, 14B are adapted to be varied, in particular vertically and horizontally in relation to the pivots 5 so that they are above the center of the lower pin of the universal joints and change from one side of the struts 6 to the other as occasion demands.

In the construction shown in FIG. 6A a mast with outrigger X Y and slewing means .I carries a jib L which is free to rotate through 360. The winch 15 controls the hoist wire which passes over pulley means 17, over pulley means 18, over pulley means 19 and thence to cargo lifting means. Winch 20 controls the topping and slewing wire which passes over pulley means 21, over pulley means 22, and over pulley means 23 and is then returned to a becket on pulley means 22. The pulley means 23 is attached either direct or by pennant 24 to securing means 2513 on the jib L. Winch 20A operates in similar manner through 22A, 23A, 24A to 25A.

The rigging illustrated enables the crane of conventional type and limited to operation on only one 'side of the mast to operate both fore and aft of the mast.

FIG. 6B shows a construction similar to FIG. 6A the topping and slewing wire being taken to each of two winches.

As shown in FIG. 6C connections to the topping wires are provided at 25A and 25B and provide a method of allowing the topping spans, especially the sheaves 23 and 23A, to pass clear of the cargo wire at all positions of the jib L when changing sides from for- 1 ward to aft or vice versa. It will be seen that no rotato is required in this construction.

It will be understood that in the constructions of FIGS. 6A and 68 single or multiple purchases maybe used;

In the construction shown in FIG. 7 the mastR carries an outrigger X Y on which are mounted securing means U" and V" adapted to slide lengthwise of the outrigger in guides 26 and 27. When the jib moves from forward to aft of the mast or vice versa the securing means U and V move from one end of the outrigger to the other.

It will be appreciated that the method and means of the invention though described above in respect of derrick cranes having a stationary mast may also be utilized in derrick cranes in which the mast is rotatable or in which an outrigger adapted to rotate relative to the mast is provided.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 8 12 movement of the jib from one side of the mast to the other is effected by causing the jib head to move in an are over the top of the mast, the jib being of open rectangular form and of such dimensions that the side members of the jib clear the sides of the mast as the jib is moved from one side of the mast to the other.

In the construction illustrated the topping and cargo wires are led up the inside of the mast R over pulleys P Q of a rotatable multi pulley unit located at the top of the mast R to the inside of the open rectangular jib L to the frame member 28.

The arcuate path of the head of the jib as it moves from one side of the mast to a position at the other side of the mast is shown in dotted lines. in FIG. 8 the second position of the mast being also shown in dotted lines.

Slewing to or from either of the extreme side positions of the jib is effected as previously described and the load may advantageously be supported as indicated generally in FIG. 8 by an anti-pendulum rig as described in the applications referred to above.

Movement of the slewing ring .I may be effected either manually or by power means indicated by JM.

The cargo block shown in FIG. 12 is effective in use with either side of the frame member 28 pivoted to the head of the jib as shown in FIG. 10..

We claim:

1. A single-mast derrick crane comprising:

a support surface having a mast extending upwardly therefrom;

a jib movably mounted adjacent one end thereof on said mast and adapted for swinging movement relative thereto, said jib having load lifting means including a load lifting cable associated therewith;

topping means associated with said jib for controlling the movement thereof in a plane substantially including the longitudinal axis of said mast, said topping means including a topping winch and topping cable means coacting between the winch and the jib;

slewing means coacting with the jib for controlling the sideward movement thereof relative to said mast, said slewing means including a slewing winch and first and second slewing cable means coacting between the winch and the jib;

first and second guide means located at a horizontal level adjacent the lower end of said mast and disposed in engagement with said first and second slewing cable means respectively, said guide means being spaced outwardly from said mass;

means coacting between said mast and said one end of said jib for permitting rotation of said one end of said jib around said mast through an angle of substantially 360; and

control means coacfing with the rigging of said derrick crane for permitting said jib to be rotated through said angle of substantially 360 without said jib encountering a null point and without said topping and slewing cable means interferring with said load lifting cable;

said control means including a support unit rotatably mounted on said jib adjacent the free end thereof for rotation relative to said jib substantially about the longitudinal axis thereof, said support unit having an opening extending therethrough for permitting passage of said first and second slewing cable means;

said first and second slewing cable means extending through the opening formed in said support unit and passing through the interior of said jib over at least a portion of the length thereof, the portions of the slewing cable means passing through the interior of said jib being interconnected to said topping cable means;

said control means further including first and second pulley means mounted on said support unit and disposed in engagement with said first and second slewing cable means respectively, said first and second pulley means being rotatably supported on said support unit for rotation about axes which are substantially perpendicular-to the longitudinal axis of said jib, whereby said first and second guide means and said first and second pulley means maintain said first and second slewing cable means spaced from said mast during rotation of said jibthrough an angle of substantially 360 relative to said mast.

2. A derrick crane according to claim 1, including second pulley means rotatably supported on said jib at a location disposed between the ends thereof, said second pulley means being disposed in engagement with one of said slewing and topping cable means.

3. A derrick crane according to claim 2, wherein said first and second pulley means are rotatably mounted on said support unit for rotation about substantially parallel axes which are substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said jib, said parallel axes of said first and second pulley means being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said jb; and

said second pulley means including a pair of coaxially aligned pulley members mounted on said jib intermediate the ends thereof and rotatable about a common axis which is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said jib, said pair of pulley members including first and second pulleys of different diameters disposed in engagement with said first and second slewing cable means, respectively, for maintaining said first and second slewing cable means spaced fgom one an othsr. 

1. A single-mast derrick crane comprising: a support surface having a mast extending upwardly therefrom; a jib movably mounted adjacent one end thereof on said mast and adapted for swinging movement relative thereto, said jib having load lifting means including a load lifting cable associated therewith; topping means associated with said jib for controlling the movement thereof in a plane substantially including the longitudinal axis of said mast, said topping means including a topping winch and topping cable means coacting between the winch and the jib; slewing means coacting with the jib for controlling the sideward movement thereof relative to said mast, said slewing means including a slewing winch and first and second slewing cable means coacting between the winch and the jib; first and second guide means located at a horizontal level adjacent the lower end of said mast and disposed in engagement with said first and second slewing cable means respectively, said guide means being spaced outwardly from said mass; means coacting between said mast and said one end of said jib for permitting rotation of said one end of said jib around said mast through an angle of substantially 360*; and control means coacting with the rigging of said derrick crane for permitting said jib to be rotated through said angle of substantially 360* without said jib encountering a null point and without said topping and slewing cable means interferring with said load lifting cable; said control means including a support unit rotatably mounted on said jib adjacent the free end thereof for rotation relative to said jib substantially about the longitudinal axis thereof, said support unit having an opening extending therethrough for permitting passage of said first and second slewing cable means; said first and second slewing cable means extending through the opening formed in said support unit and passing through the interior of said jib over at least a portion of the length thereof, the portions of the slewing cable means passing through the interior of said jib being interconnected to said topping cable means; said control means further including first and second pulley means mounted on said support unit and disposed in engagement with said first and second slewing cable means respectively, said first and second pulley means being rotatably supported on said support unit for rotation about axes which are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said jib, whereby said first and second guide means and said first and second pulley means maintain said first and second slewing cable means spaced from said mast during rotation of said jib through an angle of substantially 360* relative to said mast.
 2. A derrick crane according to claim 1, including second pulley means rotatabLy supported on said jib at a location disposed between the ends thereof, said second pulley means being disposed in engagement with one of said slewing and topping cable means.
 3. A derrick crane according to claim 2, wherein said first and second pulley means are rotatably mounted on said support unit for rotation about substantially parallel axes which are substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said jib, said parallel axes of said first and second pulley means being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said jib; and said second pulley means including a pair of coaxially aligned pulley members mounted on said jib intermediate the ends thereof and rotatable about a common axis which is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said jib, said pair of pulley members including first and second pulleys of different diameters disposed in engagement with said first and second slewing cable means, respectively, for maintaining said first and second slewing cable means spaced from one another. 